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Three Pallettes

Paddy Butler (nee Elvin) started her first job at Larkins Cartoon Film Studio, London. She had no art training, but had drawn and painted in her own time. Paddy began her career with paint mixing, in dozens of tones of grey oil paint on a sheet of glass with palette knife, this preparation was for cartoons used in black and white commercial television adverts. Paddy progressed through tracing and painting and on to assistant animator. Here she worked with key animators, creating the ‘in-between’ drawings, which relayed the character’s movement - all in the tradition of Disney. Paddy later moved on to Guild television services, Hanover Square and later to Halas and Batchelor, Soho Square. After marriage and 2 sons she continued to work freelance for many years from home, working often through the night while the children slept, heading straight off for London to take back the work in the morning! Lack of sleep halted her freelance career and Paddy finally returned to painting about ten years ago working with local artist/tutor Pat Tucker. Quite recently she took further tuition with Tutor Roger Lewis who encouraged Paddy to try other mediums and she discovered that Pastels, Crayons and Oils were all great fun. Some of these works can be seen here in the Current exhibition.

Linda Barrett was inspired to paint as a child by her grandmother’s beautiful oil paintings. Linda began classes with Roger Lewis in 2004, and has mainly worked in acrylics painting landscapes. More recently Linda has enjoyed experimenting with much success in different media, such as scraper board, water colour and pencil, and has moved on to portraits and animals, as well as paintings of a more abstract nature.

Steve Hughes rediscovered his artistic ability under 3 years ago although he had occasionally used his talent and vision to decorate friend’s nurseries with murals and cartoon effigies. He was inspired to start painting in earnest by the “Rolf on Art” series on BBC1, and, after being presented with a set of acrylic paints, brushes and a pad of paper Steve also enrolled in the weekly Roger Lewis painting class at The Ripley Art Centre.

“I like to take an image and put my own personal style and signature on it, working quickly, trying out new ideas and techniques, learning as I go along. I hadn’t really sat down and painted a picture since my ‘O’ level exam back at secondary school some 27 odd years ago and finding the time was an issue until the classes at Ripley gave me reserved time once a week. I love the impressionistic style of painting and try never to overwork details unless I feel the composition would benefit from it. I enjoy the challenge of taking a blank white canvas or piece of paper and reproducing a composition and I’m surprised and flattered to discover people enjoy and like my work. I would like to thank the Ripley Art Centre for this opportunity to display some of my work”.
Steve Hughes